I help NHS Trusts and health charities to develop ethical grateful patient programmes that build leadership confidence, engage clinicians and unlock sustainable philanthropic income.
This work is grounded in designing and leading the first grateful patient programme in the NHS and supporting Trusts and health charities to do this well - with care, clarity and good governance.
A Grateful Patient approach isn’t about asking - it’s about accepting.
It’s about building a respectful, ethical, and strategic framework that enables patients to give when they feel moved to do so. I will help you design and launch a bespoke Grateful Patient Fundraising Strategy that fits your organisation, your team, and your budget - unlocking sustainable income and long-term donor relationships.
My work focuses on building Clinical and Leadership confidence first. Without this confidence, Grateful Patient Programmes stall.
✅ Build a compelling business case for your Grateful Patient programme
✅ Secure leadership buy-in and investment
✅ Engage clinicians with confidence and clarity
✅ Design a pilot strategy that fits your hospital culture
✅ Create ethical, GDPR-compliant patient engagement processes
HOW I WORK
I support healthcare organisations at three levels. Most begin with a Leadership Briefing, then decide what further support is right for them.
1. Leadership Briefing
A confident starting point
Best for: CEOs, Charity Directors, Trust leaders, senior clinicians
A 90‑minute senior‑level briefing designed to help leaders understand how grateful patient fundraising works in practice, what good looks like ethically, and whether this approach is right for their organisation.
Leaders gain:
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Confidence in ethical grateful patient fundraising
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A shared understanding of opportunities, boundaries and risks
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Clarity about the role of clinicians and leadership
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Informed recommendations on next steps
Purpose: Confidence, clarity and alignment
2. Grateful Patient Consultancy
Designing and embedding an ethical programme
Best for: Organisations ready to move from discussion to action
A structured consultancy programme to design and embed an ethical grateful patient approach that fits your organisation, governance and culture.
This work supports:
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Charity and Trust leadership
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Fundraising teams
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Clinicians and clinical leaders
The benefits:
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A clear, ethical grateful patient framework
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Strong leadership ownership and oversight
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Clinicians who understand why patients give and feel confident engaging appropriately
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Fundraising focused on warm patient prospects
Purpose: Sustainable income rooted in trust and ethics
3. Clinician Training
Building confidence with care
Best for: Consultants, clinical leaders, nurses, NHS teams
Thoughtful, practical training that helps clinicians understand patient gratitude, their role in ethical philanthropy, and how they can engage safely and appropriately.
Clinicians gain:
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Confidence responding to patient gratitude
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Clarity about boundaries and safeguarding
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Reassurance that this work is values‑led and ethical
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Understanding of how their insight supports patient‑led giving
Purpose: Clinician confidence — not clinician fundraising
optional add-ons
⭐ A bespoke evaluation of your organisation’s grateful patient potential
⭐ On-site Grateful Patient Workshop to work with you on your strategy
⭐ Clinician Training session at your hospital
⭐ Materials Evaluation & Recommendations
⭐ Grateful Patient Club – Monthly virtual coaching & peer support
"Grateful Patient fundraising isn’t just a strategy—it’s a movement. It empowers patients to say thank you, builds trust with clinicians, and unlocks transformational gifts. Take Your Fundraising Strategy to the next level. Don’t let reactive fundraising hold your charity back. With the right strategy, you can unlock sustainable income, strengthen relationships with warm donors, and drive long-term impact for your organisation."
Gemma Downham, Downham Consulting